SpringThunder
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2022
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 15
Hey everybody!
I'm not new to muzzleloading but I am new to bullet to bore and have a handful of questions.
Nobody that I know shoots a 45 let alone bullet to bore in any muzzleloaders.
Shooting a knight Ultralite 45. 1-20 twist. 275 Ballistic extreme is what I'm dialed in for now and have 250 and 300 to play with but interested in other options. only 15 rounds through this rig at the time so time will tell if I even really need to venture from Ballistic Extremes.
Woods hunting from sunrise to say 2pm and then field sitting past that. Woods shots are woods shots but the fields I can hunt if a man put in the time he could really reach out there. Distance isn't the name of the game but if I can work something up to say 250/300 yard shot with a good tight group at the range and tested in field scenarios at the range I would possibly send them that far. I'd imagine with proper bullets I'd have nothing to worry with a magnum charge sending them through dinner at a distance as long as I can do my part. Won't if I cant.
1. What bullets are safe to shoot bullet to bore? All flat bases or just certain flat bases? any other options? Makes and models would be awesome!
(I feel like anyone experienced with bullet to bore could run up a post and have it pinned. I've used the search feature and read a pile of threads and have picked Parker Ballistic Extremes to start off with but don't have to many clues as to what I can or can't do.)
I'd love to shoot 45 xtp mags for the velocity range they offer or just for trigger time at the range to save the Ballistic Extremes, if satisfied with them, as they are a tad steeper than XTP.
2. Is sizing all copper bullets, like a barnes expander .451, possible or would it possibly cause damage the the sizing die or the barrel?
I have a swinglock sizing die and the lee hand press for being able to size at the range and in general.
The Bear Creek ballistics 450 bushmaster round has done me well and I see they offer a Muzzleloader round, possibly the same one as the Bushy, for use with sabots out of a 50. Question #1 will probably answer both 1 and 2.
3. Wool wads... to lube or not to lube?
I purchased 45 cal wool wads and have since read I should have bought 50 cal for the 45? either way the 45 wool non lubed pushed that ballistic extreme out at red ryder velocity. Switched to Veggies and no issue because its what I should have seated that first shot on anyway.
4. Shooting blackhorn, would yall advise a man, bullet to bore or not, to have the scope dialed to a fouled barrel or that first clean shot?
Probably wouldn't be cleaning the barrel after sending a round into my steaks so I'm leaning towards fouled barrel scope zero.
5. If zeroed in on fouled barrel would yall recommend snapping some primers off before hunting and loading before hitting the woods?
That is what I have done with my 50 shooting sabots in the past and will probably zero on the fouled barrel and snap a couple off before loading and hitting the woods. Why fix what has worked in the past, can you tell me? I will play around at the range to figure this all out but just strapped on time to actually hit the range.
7. Going out on a limb, is anyone located near Kane County Illinois with some private dirt to have some range time? I work 6 days out of the week so hitting the range and church on Sunday I'm strapped on time for both and as a non member or even member at most "local" ranges I still would be stuck to sundays. Would love the opportunity to one get to know anyone out this way as the younger generation, myself, not many folks are into muzzleloading, shooting or hunting in general and two have another person either educated to mentor me along this bullet to bore journey or just a buddy in general. I can definitely put in some work to gain permission if you don't want anything to do with me but would allow me to shoot.
Pops was a hunter safety instructor and all my mentors growing up were as well so even though I'm some random yahoo I was born and raised around guns so I know the respect needed to be had with them and on the properties I have them on. Not a total yahoo hahaha.
8. Last question. Would slugging my barrel give me the same measurements as just sticking a dial caliper groove to groove or land to land or is slugging the ideal method for measure? Don't have a caliper as of yet but will be picking one up. I'll take some recommendations on a quality caliper too.
Illinois has a .44 minimum, if the dnr wanted to they could bring out a dial caliper and write you up for .429 out of a 50 sabot so 45 full bore is my only option for deer with this rig. I'll definitely play around with 40/10mm for coyote loads, cheaper range sessions and out of state hunts where .40 is legal.
If there are threads I may have missed in the search that would be beneficial please link them here but I have spent a good amount of time running through the search.
Thanks Yall!
I'm not new to muzzleloading but I am new to bullet to bore and have a handful of questions.
Nobody that I know shoots a 45 let alone bullet to bore in any muzzleloaders.
Shooting a knight Ultralite 45. 1-20 twist. 275 Ballistic extreme is what I'm dialed in for now and have 250 and 300 to play with but interested in other options. only 15 rounds through this rig at the time so time will tell if I even really need to venture from Ballistic Extremes.
Woods hunting from sunrise to say 2pm and then field sitting past that. Woods shots are woods shots but the fields I can hunt if a man put in the time he could really reach out there. Distance isn't the name of the game but if I can work something up to say 250/300 yard shot with a good tight group at the range and tested in field scenarios at the range I would possibly send them that far. I'd imagine with proper bullets I'd have nothing to worry with a magnum charge sending them through dinner at a distance as long as I can do my part. Won't if I cant.
1. What bullets are safe to shoot bullet to bore? All flat bases or just certain flat bases? any other options? Makes and models would be awesome!
(I feel like anyone experienced with bullet to bore could run up a post and have it pinned. I've used the search feature and read a pile of threads and have picked Parker Ballistic Extremes to start off with but don't have to many clues as to what I can or can't do.)
I'd love to shoot 45 xtp mags for the velocity range they offer or just for trigger time at the range to save the Ballistic Extremes, if satisfied with them, as they are a tad steeper than XTP.
2. Is sizing all copper bullets, like a barnes expander .451, possible or would it possibly cause damage the the sizing die or the barrel?
I have a swinglock sizing die and the lee hand press for being able to size at the range and in general.
The Bear Creek ballistics 450 bushmaster round has done me well and I see they offer a Muzzleloader round, possibly the same one as the Bushy, for use with sabots out of a 50. Question #1 will probably answer both 1 and 2.
3. Wool wads... to lube or not to lube?
I purchased 45 cal wool wads and have since read I should have bought 50 cal for the 45? either way the 45 wool non lubed pushed that ballistic extreme out at red ryder velocity. Switched to Veggies and no issue because its what I should have seated that first shot on anyway.
4. Shooting blackhorn, would yall advise a man, bullet to bore or not, to have the scope dialed to a fouled barrel or that first clean shot?
Probably wouldn't be cleaning the barrel after sending a round into my steaks so I'm leaning towards fouled barrel scope zero.
5. If zeroed in on fouled barrel would yall recommend snapping some primers off before hunting and loading before hitting the woods?
That is what I have done with my 50 shooting sabots in the past and will probably zero on the fouled barrel and snap a couple off before loading and hitting the woods. Why fix what has worked in the past, can you tell me? I will play around at the range to figure this all out but just strapped on time to actually hit the range.
7. Going out on a limb, is anyone located near Kane County Illinois with some private dirt to have some range time? I work 6 days out of the week so hitting the range and church on Sunday I'm strapped on time for both and as a non member or even member at most "local" ranges I still would be stuck to sundays. Would love the opportunity to one get to know anyone out this way as the younger generation, myself, not many folks are into muzzleloading, shooting or hunting in general and two have another person either educated to mentor me along this bullet to bore journey or just a buddy in general. I can definitely put in some work to gain permission if you don't want anything to do with me but would allow me to shoot.
Pops was a hunter safety instructor and all my mentors growing up were as well so even though I'm some random yahoo I was born and raised around guns so I know the respect needed to be had with them and on the properties I have them on. Not a total yahoo hahaha.
8. Last question. Would slugging my barrel give me the same measurements as just sticking a dial caliper groove to groove or land to land or is slugging the ideal method for measure? Don't have a caliper as of yet but will be picking one up. I'll take some recommendations on a quality caliper too.
Illinois has a .44 minimum, if the dnr wanted to they could bring out a dial caliper and write you up for .429 out of a 50 sabot so 45 full bore is my only option for deer with this rig. I'll definitely play around with 40/10mm for coyote loads, cheaper range sessions and out of state hunts where .40 is legal.
If there are threads I may have missed in the search that would be beneficial please link them here but I have spent a good amount of time running through the search.
Thanks Yall!